A Process Theology of Interdependence

Abstract

AS WHITEHEADIAN process theology enters its third generation, it is no Jt longer dominated by a few major thinkers. For the most part, Whiteheadian process theology has been developed by theologians within the liberal Protestant tradition. Recently, process theology has been given serious attention by a wider audience. In particular, it is being appropriated by Catholic theologians. David Tracy, for example, focuses on problems in foundational theology by incorporating a process perspective. Bernard Lee uses Whiteheadian process categories to seek a new understanding of the Church and the sacraments. The future direction of process theology remains open, but for two reasons I anticipate that the question of and community will be given increased attention. First, process theology has already explored the doctrines of God, human existence, and, most recently, Christ. While these are still open issues, one would expect that other doctrines, such as the Church, will become increasingly important. Second, and perhaps more significant, lines of contrast are emerging as process theology moves out to embrace a wider perspective. In particular, there appears to be a difference between Catholic and Protestant theologians regarding the relationship between the individual and the community. Of course, contrasting emphases should be welcomed, for only through contrast is novel advance possible. In this paper I will suggest possible strategies for the development of a process theology of the Church based on fellowship through love. In Section 1 the work of John B. Cobb Jr. and that of Bernard Lee are compared to make two points: first, that the question of the Church has been addressed primarily in terms of the framework of individual and community; second, that there is a difference of emphasis concerning the primacy of the individual, or contrariwise, the primacy of community, which is a function of religious affiliation and not rooted in the process perspective itself. In Section 2 an alternative approach to the question of the Church is proposed based on a process theology of interrelations. Rather than addressing the doctrine of the Church in terms of individual and community, we should focus on love as a categorical primitive. 1 D. Tracy, Blessed Rage for Order: The New Pluralism in Theology (New York: Seabury, 1975). 2 B. Lee, S.M., The Becoming of the Church: A Process Theology of the Structures of Christian Experience (New York: Paulist, 1974).